Despite their history that includes an uncomfortable divorce, Stephen A. Smith is happy to see Max Kellerman covering sports again.
On the latest episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the ESPN host addressed the recent criticism he’s faced for possibly overextending himself. And while doing so, he also addressed his relationship with Kellerman.
Nearly two years after he was let go by ESPN, Kellerman was recently announced as part of the broadcast team for the Sept. 13 Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing match which will stream on Netflix. Kellerman’s whereabouts and future in sports media has been speculated about since his departure from ESPN in 2023. And while Smith had no desire to work with Kellerman on First Take anymore, he was happy to hear about his former debate partner’s looming return to sports media.
“They said that I was upset that Max Kellerman, my former colleague at ESPN on First Take, I got upset because he’s gonna be calling the Terence Crawford and Canelo Álvarez fight in September?” Smith asked. “They looked at my face and said I was upset.”
For the sake of accuracy, no one looked at Smith’s face and said he was upset about Kellerman getting to call a highly anticipated boxing match on Netflix. It was, however, recently pointed out that Smith rolled his eyes when Kellerman’s name was broached on First Take.
“I’m upset about Max Kellerman?” Smith continued. “I have nothing against Max Kellerman. I didn’t want to work with him on First Take anymore. That’s all. I didn’t think we were good partners for a debate show. If we were doing boxing, if we were doing SportsCenter or something like that, no problem. For a two-hour, daily debate show, I didn’t think we worked any longer. That’s all.
“Never wanted him fired. Never wanted him unemployed. Happy he’s back. Cause I don’t wish for brothers not to get a check and not to be employed. Because that brother is brilliant and he deserves a check. And oh, by the way, you ain’t gonna find anybody that knows more boxing than him. I’m happy for him! Even though his boy will lie his ass off and say otherwise because he gonna get more clicks. Y’all know who the hell it is.”
Based on context clues, Kellerman’s “boy” that Smith was referring to appears to be Marcellus Wiley. On his YouTube show, Wiley has frequently covered Smith’s treatment of Kellerman in recent years. Wiley, who previously co-hosted a local radio show with Kellerman on ESPN LA, has also teased their own potential reunion.
No one assumed Smith learned about Kellerman’s pending return to boxing coverage and figured he must have been fuming at the news. But on numerous occasions, Smith has given us reason to believe he isn’t a fan of Kellerman’s. Smith admitted he decided Kellerman wasn’t a fit alongside him on First Take back in 2022, citing chemistry issues. And Smith even went so far as to bluntly state he didn’t like working with Kellerman. But surely, Kellerman is now happy to learn of Smith’s approval as he prepares to get back behind the mic.